Position control system for an adjusting member actuated by a pneumatic actuating drive

Abstract

A position control system for an adjusting member actuated by a pneumatic actuating drive, such as a pivot drive, comprising a sensor for detecting a position of the adjusting member, at least one signal processing device, such as a set value/actual value comparator or the like, connected to the sensor, and a pneumatic output, such as a current/pressure converter, including a pneumatic amplifier for control of the actuating drive, having the at least one signal processing device and the pneumatic output housed in a common regulator casing. The control casing may be adapted to be flange-connected in the area of a pneumatic interface of the regulating drive housing, while a pneumatic, preferably pipeless, connection is established between the regulator casing and the actuating drive housing, and for the sensor to be disposed outside of the regulator casing.

1 . A position control system for an adjusting member actuated by a pneumatic actuating drive in an actuating drive housing, the position control system comprising: 
 a sensor for detecting a position of the adjusting member;    at least one signal processing device in communication with the sensor; and    a pneumatic output for control of the actuating drive, wherein the at least one signal processing device and the pneumatic output are housed in a common regulator casing,    wherein the regulator casing is adapted to be flange-connected in the area of a pneumatic interface of the actuating drive housing, while a pneumatic connection is established between the regulator casing and the actuating drive housing, and wherein the sensor is disposed outside of the regulator casing.    
   
   
       2 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member is a control valve.  
   
   
       3 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a drilling pattern of the regulator casing for establishing the pneumatic connection is adapted according to a standardized drilling pattern of the pneumatic interface corresponding in particular to a drilling pattern of VDI/VDE (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure/Verband der Elektrotechnik) guideline 3845.  
   
   
       4 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the regulator casing comprises at least one pneumatic inlet connection for pneumatic communication with a pressure-gas source and further comprises at least one pneumatic outlet connection through which gas at modulated pressure can be introduced to actuate the actuating drive.  
   
   
       5 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the regulator casing comprises a pneumatic inlet connection through which the pneumatic output is supplied with energy, and further comprises a pneumatic outlet connection, the regulator casing being free of a pneumatic inlet connection for pneumatic communication with a pressure-gas source.  
   
   
       6 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least two pneumatic connections at the regulator casing are disposed with respect to each other such that they can be aligned with at least two pneumatic connections of the actuating drive.  
   
   
       7 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the regulator casing comprises a flange area of which the shape is complementary to the actuating drive housing in the area of the pneumatic interface.  
   
   
       8 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mounted adjacent the adjusting member.  
   
   
       9 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is mounted at the outer side of the adjusting member facing the actuating drive.  
   
   
       10 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic output is configured to supply the actuating drive with gas pressure that is adapted to be modulated so that the adjusting member may be positioned and fixed in at least one intermediate position between opening and closing positions.  
   
   
       11 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the adjusting member is movable continuously into a plurality of intermediate positions and fixed.  
   
   
       12 . The position control system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the adjusting member is movable stepwise into a plurality of intermediate positions and fixed.  
   
   
       13 . A pneumatic actuating drive, comprising: 
 an actuating drive housing; and    a position control system for an adjusting member actuated by the pneumatic actuating drive, the position control system including: 
 a sensor for detecting a position of the adjusting member;  
 at least one signal processing device in communication with the sensor; and  
 a pneumatic output for control of the actuating drive, wherein the at least one signal processing device and the pneumatic output are housed in a common regulator casing,  
 wherein the regulator casing is adapted to be flange-connected in the area of a pneumatic interface of the actuating drive housing, while a pneumatic connection is established between the regulator casing and the actuating drive housing, and wherein the sensor is disposed outside of the regulator casing.  
   
   
   
       14 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the actuating drive housing comprises a pneumatic inlet connection to be connected to a pressure-gas source and communicate through a pneumatic outlet connection of the actuating drive housing with a pneumatic inlet connection of the regulator casing for supply to the pneumatic output.  
   
   
       15 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a ring-like or sleeve-like member is arranged between the actuating drive housing in the area of the pneumatic interface and a flange section of the regulator casing facing the actuating drive housing to establish pneumatic communication between mutually opposed pneumatic passages in the regulator casing and the actuating drive housing.  
   
   
       16 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least two pneumatic connections of the actuating drive are disposed with respect to each other such that they can be aligned with at least two pneumatic connections at the regulator casing.  
   
   
       17 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the actuating drive housing comprises a flange area of which the shape is complementary to the regulator casing in the area of the pneumatic interface.  
   
   
       18 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the pneumatic output is configured to supply a modulated gas pressure to cause the adjusting member to be positioned and fixed in at least one intermediate position between opening and closing positions.  
   
   
       19 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the pneumatic output is configured to cause the adjusting member to move continuously and fix into a plurality of intermediate positions.  
   
   
       20 . The actuating drive as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the pneumatic output is configured to cause the adjusting member to move stepwise and fix into a plurality of intermediate positions.